Monday, October 16, 2006

The highest form of flattery

There was a fever over the land. A fever of disgrace, of indignity, of hunger. We had a democracy, yes, but it was torn by elements within. Above all, there was fear. Fear of today, fear of tomorrow, fear of our neighbors, and fear of ourselves. Only when you understand that - can you understand what Hitler meant to us. Because he said to us: 'Lift your heads! Be proud to be German! There are devils among us. Communists, Liberals, Jews, Gypsies! Once these devils will be destroyed, your misery will be destroyed.' It was the old, old story of the sacrifical lamb. What about those of us who knew better? We who knew the words were lies and worse than lies? Why did we sit silent? Why did we take part? Because we loved our country! What difference does it make if a few political extremists lose their rights? What difference does it make if a few racial minorities lose their rights? It is only a passing phase. It is only a stage we are going through. It will be discarded sooner or later.

The Ernst Janning quote from Judgment at Nuremberg is blood chilling. When will America have her awakening? When will we realize that this bloodlust will only lead to our own detriment? All we would have to do is take the time to look at history for God's sake... but who the hell does that? Most people say: Read? Learn? Who me? I relish being a know-nothing moron. It is just much easier. And if saying that makes me an elitist liberal snob than so be it. You can't change the world by voting for American Idol dumbasses. You can change the world by taking the time to know the issues ON YOUR OWN-- not spoonfed from a church or a radio talk show host-- and vote for a politician who will have a profound effect on your life and our children's lives.

Has there ever been a time when our democracy has come under such an attack? It is hard to know what to do. I think the internet keeps us well-informed, but it also keeps us in our houses, and off the streets. We need to be in the streets. This administration is shredding our Constitution and there really hasn't been a rally big enough to shake Wour country out of its lethargy. I don't know what to think about November 7th. Part of me believes the republicans will try to steal it, part of me thinks that it's just too big to steal that many districts, and with so many people watching. I don't know.